NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Tenth-ranked Christopher Newport jumped out to a 9-0 lead just 2:17 into the game and never looked back in claiming a 68-51 victory over Washington and Lee in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday evening at the Freeman Center.

Sophomore guard Meg Ingram (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) canned a three-pointer at the 17:37 mark to get the Generals on the board (9-3), but the Captains (29-0) continued to race out to a 19-6 lead with 13:47 remaining in the opening half.

Despite 14 first-half turnovers, W&L (18-10) remained in striking distance for much of the half, trailing by just 11 points (32-21) following a jumper by first-year forward Katy Wilson (Chattanooga, Tenn./Baylor) with 4:47 remaining. However, CNU pulled away for a 40-24 lead at the break and increased its lead to as many as 23 points (54-31) with 11:37 left in the game.

W&L chipped away at the lead, cutting it to a 15-point game (56-41) on a layup by Ingram with 6:30 to play, but could get no closer as the Captains remained undefeated.

W&L shot just 37.5 percent (21-56), committed 20 turnovers and was out-rebounded by CNU, 34-21. Conversely, the Captains shot 49.0 percent (25-51) from the field (53.3 percent in the first half) and out-scored the Generals at the free throw line, 16-6.

Washington and Lee was led by Ingram, who scored 14 points and dished four assists. Wilson totaled 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while first-year forward Rachel Warrick (Herndon, Va./Langley) chipped in 10 markers.

Sophomore guard Alysa Kerr led CNU with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and 5-of-5 shooting from the foul line. Junior guard Chelsie Schweers registered 16 points, while junior forward Jessica Moore chipped in 13 points and seven boards.

Christopher Newport advances to the second round of the tournament, where it will meet Roanoke College on Saturday at 7:00 pm. Washington and Lee ends its season with a school-record 18 wins (18-10) and its first-ever ODAC Championship.

-- GENERALS --